As I write this on the Saturday morning before Easter Sunday, I do indeed have a toilet in my living room. I sat calmly having a quiet time as my husband and son carried it there and set it on a tarp.
To me the amazing thing isn’t that there is a toilet in my living room when I have company coming, but that I sat calmly and watched them put it there – at my suggestion!
Yes I, – Miss Organized – Miss Neat – Miss Everything in its place, suggested they put it in the living room knowing that we have company coming for Easter dinner tomorrow.
Surely there must be some explanation for this. Perhaps I’ve finally succumbed to “old timers’ disease” as my dear children enjoy calling it? No, this is the grace of God. I have absolute peace with a toilet in my living room and company coming tomorrow.
This wasn’t always true. Just yesterday I was sharp with one of my daughters first thing in the morning because I was feeling overwhelmed with all that has been going on. After asking her forgiveness for dumping on her, I went to my room and made a list of all the things that were making me feel overwhelmed.
It took an entire sheet of paper but I got it all out – remodeling three bathrooms with all the choices and mess involved (hence the toilet in the living room), trouble with overcharges on our Sprint bill, a wasps” nest by my bedroom, the forgotten article I was responsible for writing, appointments that needed making, meals that needed cooking, errands that needed to be run – these were just a few of the things I listed.
In doing this, I realized the real basis of the problem. The first of the year I had made a commitment to exercise as often as I could in the morning. Then with bathroom remodeling we have our son-in-law coming every morning, so my quiet times were getting cut short on both ends – I was starting later and stopping sooner. We had also dropped our family devotions in the morning since we couldn’t seem to get it all in before Lance arrived and he and Eric went to work on the bathrooms. In addition, we had also been using our evenings entirely in less profitable ways, reading mysteries and watching movies, rather than the Word and praying together.
In our busyness we had eliminated a lot of the time we usually spend with the Lord. After looking over my list I repented, then gave the entire list – every item – over to the Lord.
I had e-mailed my husband and asked for prayer after being short with our daughter, telling him I was feeling overwhelmed. After dinner he asked me what was going on, so I showed him my list. He said I certainly had plenty of reasons to be overwhelmed. We talked about how we’ve been giving less time to the Lord and purposed to change that.
What a difference a day makes. I should be cooking, but here I sit, typing a post for my website. We have a very busy day, but I’ve given it to the Lord. I’m planning to do all I can to make our home warm and inviting, but there will be a toilet in my living room on Easter Sunday. We will sit in the sunroom with our guests.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3: 5- 6
Phyllis Sather
Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness at:
http://www.Phyllis-Sather.com
© 2007 Phyllis Sather
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Contact me at: Phyllis@Phyllis-Sather.com
